Reba (l) presents Kix Brooks with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award Monday at City Winery in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
Kix Brooks is esteemed by country fans for his years of energetic live shows, both as part of the duo Brooks & Dunn, and as a solo entertainer and songwriter.
Monday evening (Feb. 2), Brooks was honored by the Country Music Association for the hard work he does behind the scenes, to help scores of charitable organizations. During an elegant dinner at Nashville’s City Winery, the CMA Foundation honored Brooks with its inaugural Humanitarian Award.
Pictured (L-R): Reba, Kix Brooks, Sarah Trahern
CMA Board of Directors member Brian O’Connell noted that after Brooks joined the CMA Board of Directors in 1998, he was instrumental in helping to form the CMA Music Foundation. He also presided as President of the Board in 2004, and Chairman in 2005.
“He joined the CMA Board, not for the prestige, but to represent the artist community, which was underrepresented at the time,” said O’Connell. “He wanted to know how CMA worked, and especially at the time, how Fan Fair worked. The artists were not getting paid to perform. He was asking questions and calling bullshit when it needed to be called, having an honest dialogue with the board and committees. As a direct result of his involvement was the formation of the CMA Music Foundation, funded through the proceeds of CMA Music Festival. It’s because of Kix’s vision that every student in Metro Nashville public schools should have access to play a musical instrument.”
The Country Music Association Foundation has also donated more than $11 million to music programs across the United States.
Kix Brooks is honored at City Winery with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.
Brooks also saw a need to develop affordable health insurance options for CMA members, advocating for the creation of the CMA Instrumental Health Care.
In attendance were several representatives of charitable organizations that Kix has helped over the years, including Operation Finally Home, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Monroe Harding Children’s Home, Louisiana Tech, and the CMA Foundation.
Kix Brooks
Video tributes came from Jody Williams, Joe Galante, Clarence Spalding, Rob Beckham, Scott Borchetta, Becky Brenner, Charlie Morgan, Ebie McFarland, Frank Bumstead, Jeff Walker, John Esposito, Little Big Town, Gary Overton, John Huie, Michael Knox, Mike Dungan, Mike Vaden, Don and Stacey Schlitz, Tony Conway, Troy Tomlinson, Victoria Shaw and more.
The evening’s closing tribute came from fellow superstar (and soon to be Vegas concert partner) Reba McEntire, who has now known and worked with Brooks for more than 20 years. “I’ve got a few stories on Kix,” quipped Reba. “Some people are in your life for a reason, for a season, or for forever. I’m hoping from 1994 to forever, we will always be friends, and always get to go hang out together. That’s how everyone in this room feels about you. We’ve seen how much you’ve given and contributed, but the biggest thing about you is that you have the biggest heart in the world.”
Kix Brooks is honored at City Winery with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.
“I finally got my head around it this week,” Brooks said. “I thought, what a great idea to just have dinner…then we can celebrate and the CMA has come up with a way for us to enjoy being together and enjoy giving to our community. It is a good thing to give to others, then this is a good thing we are doing tonight. Then all of a sudden, this feels right, not because this is about me, but it is about us.
“I can tell you what it means, not to get this award, but to hear all the things I’ve heard tonight, to be here and supported, it makes your heart feel so big. Things that matter in this world really do matter.”
The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award was created by the CMA Awards, to honor individuals who have been involved with humanitarian initiatives through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism, and advocacy.
ASCAP Appoints Brian Roberts As New EVP & COO
/by Sherod RobertsonBrian Roberts
ASCAP, the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, has appointed music industry veteran Brian Roberts as the organization’s Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, reporting to ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews.
Roberts was most recently Executive VP, Corporate Strategy & Operations at Warner Music Group. In his new post at ASCAP, Roberts will be responsible for the royalty payment system and will oversee ASCAP’s worldwide infrastructure. Roberts will assume his new position on March 30.
Matthews says, “ASCAP is embarking upon a new era of technology and transformation in order to continue to provide first in class services at the lowest possible cost to all of our members and licensing partners. Brian’s extensive experience in the music sector and his impressive accomplishments in leading innovative infrastructure changes to support new strategic initiatives make him the perfect candidate to run ASCAP’s operations today. Brian also shares my passion for music and the need to protect the value of the creative works of our members. We look forward to having his expertise as part of ASCAP’s new executive management team.”
Roberts joined the Warner Music Group family in 2007 as Senior VP & CFO of Warner/Chappell Music with prior stints at BMG Music Publishing, Zomba Music Publishing, EMI Publishing and Ernst & Young.
Roberts adds,“I am excited to join Beth and her team at ASCAP. I believe that ASCAP is at the center of driving core change in the music industry which will benefit songwriters, composers, music publishers, licensees and music fans alike.”
Shania Twain Announces “Last Tour,” Includes Nashville Date
/by Jessica NicholsonShe also called the run her “last tour.”
“This is going to be a big tour for me because it’s going to be my last. This is my last tour. I’m going to make the most of it. Let’s put it that way,” the singer-songwriter told Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts. “I feel like I’m ready to hang my hat up in that regard. I just really want to go out with a bang.”
Twain’s Rock This Country Tour will begin in June in Seattle.
A Nashville date is slated for Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on July 31.
Other shows includes stops in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, San Diego, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Boston, and more. The trek will also hit Canadian cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal. The tour wraps Aug. 23 in Fresno, Calif.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets through Front Of The Line for the Canadian shows only before the general public beginning Tuesday, March 10 at 10 a.m. through Thursday, March 12 at 10 p.m. local time, with the public on-sale for most North American shows beginning Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. local on axs.com. ShaniaTwain.com presale begins Tuesday, March 10 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, March 12 at 10 p.m. local time.
For a full list of tour dates, visit shaniatwain.com.
CMA Music Festival’s 2015 LP Field Lineup Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Aldean
Eric Church
Sam Hunt
Little Big Town
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
Keith Urban
Dierks Bentley
Brett Eldredge
Alan Jackson
Neal McCoy
Rascal Flatts
Cole Swindell
Wynonna & The Big Noise
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Lady Antebellum
Oak Ridge Boys
Thomas Rhett
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
The CMA Music Fest, which is sold out, will be held June 11-14. Additional information regarding performance days, etc., will be announced soon.
Brandy Clark, Vince Gill, Brandon Heath Slated for Tin Pan South
/by Jessica NicholsonFor many, it’s a chance to hear stripped down versions of hit songs, and a place where songcrafters tell the stories behind the creation of many of their hit songs. Some listeners just might hear an unreleased, future hit song or two. For songwriters, it’s a chance for unique performance collaborations with fellow artists and writers.
Tin Pan South lists more than 350 hit songwriters that will perform in numerous venues around Music City. A sampling of those writers includes Hillary Scott, Craig Campbell, Rodney Clawson, Joel Crouse, Chris DeStefano, Josh Dorr, Tom Douglas, Ben Glover, Ashley Gorley, JT Harding, Natalie Hemby, Brett James, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Georgia Middleman, Lee Thomas Miller, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Angaleena Presley, Jimmy Robbins, Liz Rose, Victoria Shaw, Caitlyn Smith, and more.
The event’s popularity continues to grow, with all fast access club passes are already sold out. Tin Pan South may still attend shows individually and pay at the door. Without a Fast Access Pass, festival admission is on a show-by-show, cash-at-the-door basis.
The first Tin Pan South was hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1992. NSAI formed in October 1967, when 42 songwriters gathered to form the organization to be an advocate for fellow songwriters.
This year’s Tin Pan South is presented by Regions Bank.
Kix Brooks Honored with Inaugural CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award
/by Jessica NicholsonReba (l) presents Kix Brooks with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award Monday at City Winery in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
Kix Brooks is esteemed by country fans for his years of energetic live shows, both as part of the duo Brooks & Dunn, and as a solo entertainer and songwriter.
Monday evening (Feb. 2), Brooks was honored by the Country Music Association for the hard work he does behind the scenes, to help scores of charitable organizations. During an elegant dinner at Nashville’s City Winery, the CMA Foundation honored Brooks with its inaugural Humanitarian Award.
Pictured (L-R): Reba, Kix Brooks, Sarah Trahern
CMA Board of Directors member Brian O’Connell noted that after Brooks joined the CMA Board of Directors in 1998, he was instrumental in helping to form the CMA Music Foundation. He also presided as President of the Board in 2004, and Chairman in 2005.
“He joined the CMA Board, not for the prestige, but to represent the artist community, which was underrepresented at the time,” said O’Connell. “He wanted to know how CMA worked, and especially at the time, how Fan Fair worked. The artists were not getting paid to perform. He was asking questions and calling bullshit when it needed to be called, having an honest dialogue with the board and committees. As a direct result of his involvement was the formation of the CMA Music Foundation, funded through the proceeds of CMA Music Festival. It’s because of Kix’s vision that every student in Metro Nashville public schools should have access to play a musical instrument.”
The Country Music Association Foundation has also donated more than $11 million to music programs across the United States.
Kix Brooks is honored at City Winery with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.
Brooks also saw a need to develop affordable health insurance options for CMA members, advocating for the creation of the CMA Instrumental Health Care.
In attendance were several representatives of charitable organizations that Kix has helped over the years, including Operation Finally Home, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Monroe Harding Children’s Home, Louisiana Tech, and the CMA Foundation.
Kix Brooks
Video tributes came from Jody Williams, Joe Galante, Clarence Spalding, Rob Beckham, Scott Borchetta, Becky Brenner, Charlie Morgan, Ebie McFarland, Frank Bumstead, Jeff Walker, John Esposito, Little Big Town, Gary Overton, John Huie, Michael Knox, Mike Dungan, Mike Vaden, Don and Stacey Schlitz, Tony Conway, Troy Tomlinson, Victoria Shaw and more.
The evening’s closing tribute came from fellow superstar (and soon to be Vegas concert partner) Reba McEntire, who has now known and worked with Brooks for more than 20 years. “I’ve got a few stories on Kix,” quipped Reba. “Some people are in your life for a reason, for a season, or for forever. I’m hoping from 1994 to forever, we will always be friends, and always get to go hang out together. That’s how everyone in this room feels about you. We’ve seen how much you’ve given and contributed, but the biggest thing about you is that you have the biggest heart in the world.”
Kix Brooks is honored at City Winery with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.
“I finally got my head around it this week,” Brooks said. “I thought, what a great idea to just have dinner…then we can celebrate and the CMA has come up with a way for us to enjoy being together and enjoy giving to our community. It is a good thing to give to others, then this is a good thing we are doing tonight. Then all of a sudden, this feels right, not because this is about me, but it is about us.
“I can tell you what it means, not to get this award, but to hear all the things I’ve heard tonight, to be here and supported, it makes your heart feel so big. Things that matter in this world really do matter.”
The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award was created by the CMA Awards, to honor individuals who have been involved with humanitarian initiatives through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism, and advocacy.
Artist Pics: Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Dallas Smith
/by Kelsey_GradyRascal Flatts Start Vegas Riot
Photo: Todd Owyoung
ACM “Vocal Group Of The Year” nominees Rascal Flatts kicked off the opening weekend of their Rascal Flatts Vegas Riot! on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the first-ever country residency at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The live shows saw the group connecting with fans on a more personal level at The Joint’s intimate 4,000 seat setting and critics enjoying the residency’s launch.
Thomas Rhett Rocks Madison Square Garden
Photo: Chris Owyoung
ACM “New Artist of the Year” nominee Thomas Rhett made a run of massive shows last week, beginning at New York City’s Madison Square Garden (2/25) where he brought his high-energy show to the iconic venue opening for Florida Georgia Line.
Dallas Smith Celebrates No. 1
Photo: Amy Allmand Photography
Platinum-selling country singer Dallas Smith celebrated his latest single, “Wastin’ Gas,” holding the No. 1 spot on the Canadian country radio charts for two consecutive weeks with numerous radio and industry friends along with his UMG Canada and Big Loud Mountain teams last Thursday (2/26) in Nashville during CRS week.
Grammy Camp For High Schoolers Returns To Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesGrammy Camp Nashville, June 1-5, 2015, is a nonresidential day camp hosted by Belmont University for local students. Through the generous contributions of Converse and Journeys, Nashville area residents accepted to Grammy Camp Nashville were offered a discounted tuition rate of $100.00.
Grammy Camp New York, Aug. 2-10, 2015, is a nine-day interactive residential summer music experience hosted by Converse Rubber Tracks.
Grammy Camp L.A., June 20-29, 2015, is a 10-day residential camp hosted by University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.
U.S. high school applicants must complete an online application, video audition and track-specific requirements at www.grammyintheschools.com by March 31, 2015. The application fee is $25 per person. A separate financial assistance form is also available to needs-based students.
• • • •
Applications for the third annual Music Educator Award™ are currently online. To nominate a teacher, visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. The deadline to nominate is March 15, 2015.
The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award and receive a $10,000 honorarium at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception during GRAMMY Week 2016. The winner will also attend the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® ceremony, and a range of GRAMMY Foundation events. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants. The honorariums and grants provided to the finalists and schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Foundation’s Education Champions Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, Journeys, and Microsoft.
Amy Grant To Release New Tracks Produced by Vince Gill
/by Eric T. ParkerThe project will be released by Sparrow Records through Capital Christian Music Group.
Other tracks come from previously released projects Legacy…Hymns & Faith and Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith, which have sold more than 800,000 copies combined.
Live outings are planned in May from Grant and Michael W. Smith. Additional information will soon be announced.
“Hymns were so much a part of my childhood,” Grant said. “We sang hymns like people sing the national anthem before a ballgame; it was hymns before everything. We sang hymns in our homes, in our church three times a week – there would be some Sunday nights where all we did was sing hymns. These songs are for people who grew up with the hymn tradition – to remind them how inspiring they are.”
Later this year, Grant will host “A Nashville Weekend,” welcoming fans to her hometown for a three-day event featuring concerts and special events. The September weekend will benefit Grant’s Helping Hands Foundation. For more information, click here.
Be Still And Know…Hymns & Faith Track Listing
1. Power In The Blood*
2. Be Still And Know*
3. Jesus Take All of Me (Just As I Am)
4. Rock Of Ages (Feat. Vince Gill)
5. Carry You
6. This Is My Father’s World
7. El Shaddai
8. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
9. It Is Well With My Soul/The River’s Gonna Keep On Rolling
10. My Jesus, I Love Thee
11. Deep As It Is Wide (Feat. Sheryl Crow and Eric Paslay)
12. What A Friend We Have In Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art
13. ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
14. Softly And Tenderly
15. Holy, Holy, Holy
*new tracks
Lee Ann Womack, Amos Lee On ‘Rock My Soul’ Concert Special
/by Sarah SkatesRock My Soul concert.
Rock My Soul, a star-studded celebration of gospel music, will air this month on PBS (check local listings). Taped at Nashville’s historic Downtown Presbyterian Church, the concert features gospel legends The Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters (daughters of former Fairfield Four bandleader Rev. Sam McCrary). Performing with an all-star Nashville band, guest artists include Amos Lee, Buddy Miller, Lee Ann Womack, Van Hunt and Lucinda Williams.
The program features interviews with many of these artists as well as Robert Plant, Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, Dom Flemson, author and historian Peter Guralnick, NPR’s Ann Powers, and experts from Fisk University and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Rock My Soul is produced by Todd Squared, LLC, producers of Bluegrass Underground.
Performances:
1. “Amazing Grace” – The McCrary Sisters
2. “Noah” – The Fairfield Four with special guest Robert Hamlett
3. “Jesus Gave Me Water” – The Fairfield Four with special guest Amos Lee
4. “Children Go Where I Send Thee” – The Fairfield Four with special guest Lee Ann Womack
5. “Get Right With God” – The Fairfield Four with special guest Lucinda Williams
6. “Hold the Wind” – The McCrary Sisters with special guest Buddy Miller
7. “Use Me Lord” – The McCrary Sisters with special guest Van Hunt
8. “I Got Jesus (and That’s Enough)” – The McCrary Sisters with special guest Lee Ann Womack
9. “Fire” – The McCrary Sisters
10. “Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around” – The McCrary Sisters with The Fairfield Four
11. “Rock My Soul” – Finale with The McCrary Sisters, The Fairfield Four and all guests
Management Company Rock Ridge Music Adds To Artist Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonMcKenzies Mill
Nashville-based country duo McKenzies Mill (composed of brothers Justin and Ryan Harris) has signed a management deal with Nashville music company Rock Ridge Music. They join the existing management roster which includes Christian Lopez Band, Grace & Tony, JD Eicher, Moonsville Collective, Riley Etheridge Jr., and Ike Reilly. Rock Ridge Music has offices in Nashville, Tenn., and in New Jersey.
Harris says, “We couldn’t be more excited about our recent signing with Rock Ridge. To be able to work with industry vets like Tom Derr and Cynthia Cochrane is exactly what we feel we need. On top of being great at what they do, they are awesome people who are driven to make things happen and help us take our careers to the next level.”
Rock Ridge Music CEO Tom Derr says, “Two great guys, many great songs, and a strong work ethic… why would we not bring that into our world!”
McKenzies Mill is scheduled to go into Soundstage Studios in Nashville in March with New Voice Entertainment set to produce their EP. New Voice is the production company formed by Rich Redmond, Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison, and David Fanning. NVE’s production credits include Thompson Square, Katie Armiger, and Parmalee.