Industry Pics

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Music City Walk of Fame Inductions
Bill Anderson and Keith Urban are the newest inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar. The honorees were recognized at a public ceremony yesterday (5/15) where commemorative sidewalk markers were unveiled in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville on Demonbreun St. between 4th and 5th Aves. S. This induction brings the total number of stars along the Walk of Fame to 50.

Bill Anderson (L) and Keith Urban (R) were inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame yesterday (5/15). Photo: Alan Mayor


RCA Studio B Honored
RCA Studio B was given the “Commissioner’s Award” by the Metro Historical Commission in a ceremony at the downtown Nashville Public Library on May 11. Linda and Mike Curb accepted the award from Commission member Don Cusic on behalf of the Mike Curb Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb College at Belmont University.

Pictured (L-R): Don Cusic, Mayor Karl Dean, Mike and Linda Curb, and Tim Walker, Executive Director of the Metro Historical Commission


Chicken Soup for the Country Music Soul
Writer Randy Rudder interviewed the songwriters of 101 classic country songs for his new book Chicken Soup for the Soul / Country Music edition. ASCAP recently hosted a party to celebrate the release which includes the stories behind “Green, Green, Grass of Home,” “Delta Dawn,” “Long, Black Train,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “The House That Built Me.”

Standing (L-R): songwriters Dickey Lee, Archie Jordan, Jeff Black, author Randy Rudder, Pat McManus, and Jim Janosky. Seated (L-R): Jamie Teachenor, Joie Scott, Rory Feek, Rand Bishop and Tia Sillers. Photo: Alan Mayor

Triple 8 Management Expands

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There has been recent expansion at Triple 8 Management, which handles the careers of Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Joe Nichols, and Kevin Fowler.
Owner George Couri announced today (5/16) the addition of two employees as well as several in-house promotions, for a total of eight full-time team members.
Jenn Poppe has joined the company as Day-to-Day Manager for Eli Young Band and Joe Nichols. Poppe previously enjoyed an eight-year stint at GHM/Red Light Management where she worked with artists such as Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, and The Warren Brothers. Reach her at jennpoppe@triple8mgmt.com.
Karen McGuire has been hired as Director of Radio Promotions. Her experience is in regional radio promotions, most recently with Universal South, and previously with Curb Records for 16 years. She can be contacted at karen@triple8mgmt.com.
Promotions include Larry Murray rising to lead the New Media and Tour Marketing department. He will be supported by Jenn Adams who has been in that department since 2009.
Other staffers include Sarah Blincoe, Day-to-Day-Manager for Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler; Merchandising head Kelly Vermillion; and Office Coordinator Haley Elander.
Triple 8 can be reached at (512) 444-7600 or www.triple8mgmt.com.

Flat Earth Music Adds Todd Wilkes

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Todd Wilkes


Flat Earth Music has hired Todd Wilkes as Creative Director. He brings experience in music publishing and artist management to the newly created role at the small Nashville publishing company. He took office earlier this month, where he is leading the growing stable of songwriters and pluggers.
Since launching in 2005, Flat Earth Music’s biggest success has been with “Turn On The Radio,” the No. 1 hit recorded by Reba McEntire. Leading Flat Earth Music are company President Greg Flatt and Business Development Director Dave Wilson.
Wilkes’ track record includes work with Randy Travis, George Strait, Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and many others. He said, “When I met Greg and began to learn about his vision, I couldn’t help but feel compelled to be a part of Flat Earth Music.”
Flatt says he is excited to have someone of Wilkes’ caliber on staff “to provide the creative Yen to my business Yang.”
Contact information for Flat Earth Music
1907 Acklen Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 866-6883
info@flatearthmusic.com
www.flatearthmusic.com

Caroline Davis Joins Watkins College

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Caroline Davis has joined Watkins College of Art, Design & Film as Director of External Relations and Assistant Director of Development. In her new role she will handle the school’s communications and media relations as well as contributing to special event, fundraising and alumni services efforts.
Davis’ previous experience includes stints with Performing Songwriter magazine, BMI (both in Nashville and Los Angeles) and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She is an alumna of Vanderbilt University and also did graduate work at USC’s school of cinematic arts. She is currently on the board of Leadership Music.
Contact her at 615-277-7403 or cdavis@watkins.edu.

Bright Joins Diane Richey Promotions

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Diane Richey Promotions has announced the addition of Katie Bright to its staff. Bright was most recently part of the celebrated morning team The House Foundation with Gerry House on WSIX/Nashville, which she joined in 2010. Prior to that, she spent five years at WAXX in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where she co-hosted mornings with George House. Reach her at richeypromokb@comcast.net.

Chrisman Launches New Promotion Company

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Veteran radio promoter Ann Chrisman has opened Ann Chrisman Promotions, where she will specialize in secondary promotion to MusicRow and Billboard Indicator stations.
Most recently with Diane Richey Promotions, Chrisman originally opened her own promotion outfit in 1993 after leaving Disc Jockey Records. She joined Richey in 2001, where she worked with artists from Capitol Records, Lyric Street, Show Dog-Universal, Broken Bow/Stoney Creek, and more.
“I am thrilled and excited to make this announcement,” says Chrisman. “I am looking forward to this new chapter of my career!”
Reach Chrisman at 615-587-0674 or ann.chrisman1@att.net.

AMA Visits Big Apple For Announcement

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The Americana Music Association will present this year’s Honors & Awards Nominee announcement at an invitation only media event in New York City on May 23rd. The nominees are usually announced in Nashville, but according to AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly, “With all the critical acclaim that we have garnered in recent years, we felt that our next move was to reach out to National media to focus more spotlight on the genre and community. Mayor Karl Dean has confirmed to attend and speak as have some key members of our artistic community including Levon Helm (who is bringing his Dirt Farmer quartet), Rosanne Cash, Jim Lauderdale and The Civil Wars, just to name a few.” Helping to make the New York announcement possible are Gibson, BMI and Nissan.

However, the AMA’s Fall event will take place in Nashville as usual. “We have no plans to move,” says Hilly. “Our Festival, Conference and Awards show will be here in Music City, where it belongs, the week of October 12-15.”

Eye On Idol (5/13/11)

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Well, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?
I feel confident saying that very few people saw last night’s (5/12) American Idol elimination of James Durbin coming. Especially not James. He gave typically splendid performances of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Leiber/Stoller’s “Love Potion No. 9” on Wednesday (5/11) that were roundly praised by the judges, adding to his incredible season-long momentum.
In fact, he was the only one of the remaining four this week who hadn’t been in the bottom vote-getters a single time. I figured he would sail right on to the finale, scoop up a record deal regardless if he won or lost and carve out a decent career playing his endearing brand of pop metal. And maybe he still will–he’ll just get to do it a little sooner than expected.
But that’s been one of the exciting things about this season of Idol: it’s anything but predictable. People who I figured would last deep into the competition have exited very early (Pia Toscano), and people who I swore would be toast early on have proven themselves to be worthy competitors (Hayley Reinhart).
That means the final three are Hayley, Scotty McCreery, and Lauren Alaina, which all but guarantees a country singer the win.
Follow me on this one: both Scotty and Lauren are undoubtedly Nashville-bound after the show. There’s the possibility that we end up with an all-country finale, and I’ll hazard a guess that Scotty would come out victorious in that matchup. Either way, it’s a win for Nashville. Maybe we even get a feisty “Jackson” style duet out of the deal.
But here’s the more likely reality show scenario. There’s a good chance Scotty and Lauren are currently splitting the country vote, which actually might give Hayley the edge to beat one of them and get into the finale. At which point all the country voters will put their differences aside and rally around whoever is left, completely obliterating Hayley.
In theory, anyway. There’s still a chance I may have to eat my words two weeks from now.

Aldean Tour Dates Sell Out

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Jason Aldean



 

Jason Aldean’s amphitheatre My Kinda Party Tour has recently sold out three shows a week in advance, including the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Indianapolis, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Mo. and the Jiffy Lube Live in Washington, DC for a total of over 66,000 tickets sold for the three dates.
“It is exciting to see Jason’s shows selling out, but the fact that they are selling out a week in advance is nothing short of amazing,” said Brian O’Connell, Live Nation’s President of Country Touring. “Jason is taking his rightful place at the top of the touring world in all genres as a major superstar.”
Visit www.jasonaldean.com for more information.
Aldean has been nominated for the 2011 CMT Awards, where he leads the nominations with four for Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for “My Kinda Party,” Collaborative Video of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson and Best Web Video of the Year for “My Kinda Party” Live from the CMT Webcast. He is scheduled to perform on the June 8 live broadcast.
Additionally, Aldean’s fourth album which was released on Nov. 2, continues to hold strong in the No. one spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart selling nearly 30,000 copies again this week.

Friday Notes: MuttNation, Hayes and Brooks, The McClymonts

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Lambert’s MuttNation Raises $300,000

Miranda Lambert recently returned to her native Texas to host the 4th Annual “Cause For Paws Benefit,” held at the Festival on the Square in Tyler. More than 7000 people packed the downtown area to enjoy the music of Miranda and special musical guests, Stoney LaRue and Josh Kelley. Through ticket sales, sponsorships and live auction items, the event raised almost $300,000. Proceeds will go toward MuttNation, Lambert’s foundation that supports animal shelters, and the Humane Society of East Texas. Since she started the foundation, The Humane Society of East Texas has become a no-kill shelter.
In addition to volunteering at the local shelter, Lambert adopted her dog Delilah there, who joins her other rescue animals Jesse, Waylon, Delta Dawn, Cher, Black Betty, Virginia Bluebell and cats Shelley, Maxine, and Suzie Q as well as a host of farm animals.

 

Hunter Hayes Plays Alongside Kix Brooks

On a recent listener cruise with KMPS, Atlantic/WMN artist Hunter Hayes sat alongside Kix Brooks to play some tunes for fans.

(L-R): Hunter Hayes, KMPS PD Becky Brenner and Kix Brooks.

 

The McClymonts in USA for National Tour and New Release

Australia’s award-winning country trio, The McClymonts, are back in the USA with a brand new single and video, “Wrapped Up Good,” from the group’s forthcoming US release. The video will world premiere in heavy rotation on CMT Pure on May 16 and the single will be available at country radio in June. Producer Nathan Chapman helms the recording, along with sisters, Brooke, Mollie and Sam. The trio will begin a national touring schedule in June and plan to relocate to Nashville as they move forward with their country music career.