Diamond Rio To Celebrate 25 Years With First Live Album

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DIAMOND RIO LIVE. COVERDiamond Rio will celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary by releasing their first ever live album. The live tracks will be available exclusively at iTunes on Nov. 18 and the CD/DVD through Rio Hot Records at www.diamondrio.com.
“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a while,” lead singer Marty Roe says. “Our live show plays a major role in who we are. I didn’t start as a recording artist. I started on stage.”
Diamond Rio Live includes 22 of their top 10 singles, five no.1 singles and two never before recorded highlights of their show, the Newgrass Medley and Western Medley.
After 25 years together, the band has sold more than 10 million albums, won a Grammy Award, a Dove Award, six Vocal Group of the Year awards (CMA and ACM), released two Greatest Hits projects and nine studio albums including three certified platinum and five gold, had five multi-week no. 1 singles, 22 Top 10 singles, an autobiography and zero band member changes.
Diamond Rio Live track listing:
1. Show Opening
2. “Unbelievable”
3. “Norma Jean Riley”
4. Hits Medley #1 (“This Romeo Ain’t Got Julie Yet,” “Oh Me, Oh My Sweet Baby,” “Imagine That,” “Sweet Summer,” “Wrinkles”)
5. “Mirror Mirror”
6. Talking
7. “One More Day”
8. “Beautiful Mess”
9. Hits Medley #2 (“You’re Gone,” “In A Week Or Two,” “Mama Don’t Forget To Pray For Me,” “Walkin’ Away,” “Holdin’,” “Love A Little Stronger,” “It’s All In Your Head”)
10. “In God We Still Trust”
11. “This Is My Life”
12. “I Believe”
13. Newgrass Medley (“Walk This Way,” “Carry On My Wayward Son,” “Born To Be Wild”)
14. Talking
15. “Meet In The Middle”
16. “How Your Love Makes Me Feel”
17. “Bubba Hyde”
18. Talking
19. Western Medley (“Cattle Call,” “El Paso,” “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “They Call The Wind,” “Mariah,” “Way Out There”)

Luke Bryan Leads American Country Countdown Awards Finalists

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luke bryan11

Luke Bryan


Luke Bryan dominates the finalists for the inaugural American Country Countdown Awards, with seven nominations in categories including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Album of the Year, and Digital Song of the Year (“Drink A Beer,” “Play It Again,” and “This Is How We Roll”).
Closely following Bryan are Florida Georgia Line with six nominations, including Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Album of the Year, Digital Song of the Year (for “This Is How We Roll” and “Dirt”).
Jason Aldean picked up four nods, while Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert tied with three nominations.
The American Country Countdown Awards will air from Nashville’s Music City Center on Monday, Dec. 15, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Bryan is a featured performer during the evening, as well as Florida Georgia Line and Miranda Lambert. Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley will serve as hosts for the awards.
Finalists were announced this morning (Nov. 11) on Cumulus’ nationally syndicated radio show, “America’s Morning Show with Blair Garner.”
Finalists are determined by statistics and radio airplay charts from Nov. 1, 2013 through Oct. 31, 2014. Finalists for Album of the Year are based on album sales from Soundscan and finalists for Artist of the Year are based on a combination of Mediabase airplay, digital data from Big Champagne and tour information from Pollstar. All other award categories are made of those with the largest audience reach according to Mediabase.
The only fan-voted category is Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by Samsung Galaxy. Fan voting begins Nov. 24 and continues through Dec. 10. Fans can vote by including the following in a tweet: the artist’s Twitter handle, “Breakthrough Artist,” and the hashtag #ACCAwards.
American Country Countdown Awards Finalists:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Jason Aldean
  • Luke Bryan
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Blake Shelton  
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Jason Aldean
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Luke Bryan
  • Randy Houser
  • Blake Shelton 
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Danielle Bradbery
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Cassadee Pope
  • Taylor Swift
  • Carrie Underwood
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
  • The Band Perry
  • Eli Young Band
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Zac Brown Band 
SONG OF THE YEAR
  • “When She Says Baby” – Jason Aldean
  • “Beat Of The Music” – Brett Eldredge
  • “Lettin’ The Night Roll” – Justin Moore
  • “Drink To That All Night” – Jerrod Niemann
  • “Chillin’ It” – Cole Swindell
 COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
  • “This Is How We Roll” – Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan
  • “Small Town Throwdown” – Brantley Gilbert featuring Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett
  • “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” – Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
  • “My Eyes” – Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Sebastian
  • “We Were Us” – Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert 
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
  • “Crash My Party” – Luke Bryan
  • The Outsiders” – Eric Church
  • “Here’s To The Good Times” – Florida Georgia Line
  • “Just As I Am” – Brantley Gilbert
  • “Platinum” – Miranda Lambert 
DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR
  • “Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean
  • “Drink A Beer” – Luke Bryan
  • “Play It Again” – Luke Bryan
  • “Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
  • “This Is How We Roll” – Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan 
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG GALAXY®
(Fan-voted Award via Twitter)
  • Brett Eldredge
  • Tyler Farr
  • Kip Moore
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Cole Swindell

Jason Aldean Removes Latest Album From Spotify

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jason aldean slider 2014Jason Aldean‘s latest album, Old Boots, New Dirt, has been removed from Spotify, though the entertainer’s previous albums are still available on the popular digital music streaming outlet. Aldean’s label, Broken Bow Records, had no comment.
Old Boots, New Dirt thundered onto the charts in October with sales of 278K, the second most sales in one week for a Country album this year.

The move follows Taylor Swift‘s headline-making removal of her entire catalog from Spotify. The singer did not offer up her latest Big Machine Label Group release, 1989, to be streamed on the service. Swift’s 1989 became her third project to move one million units in its first week, making it the first million-selling album of 2014, and the first album to sell one million albums in its first week since Swift’s own 2012 release, Red.
It is worth noting that Broken Bow Records and Big Machine Label Group are independent label groups.
Both Aldean and Swift will be on the road in 2015 to promote their new releases. Aldean’s headlining Burnin’ It Down Tour will launch Feb. 12 in South Carolina, while Swift’s 1989 World Tour will begin in May in Japan.

The Recording Academy Names Alicia Warwick Exec. Dir.

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Alicia Warwick

Alicia Warwick

Alicia Warwick has been promoted to Executive Director for The Recording Academy Nashville Chapter, handling day-to-day operations. 

Susan Stewart, who previously served as Regional Director of the South Region and Executive Director of the Nashville Chapter, will retain her Regional Director duties overseeing the Nashville Chapter and three other Chapters in the South Region.

Warwick’s 15-year career began at NSAI. She joined The Recording Academy in 2006, where she most recently worked as Sr. Project Manager, handling the Nashville Chapter’s initiatives including branding, sponsorship, social media and the Nashville Producers & Engineers Wing. She is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Music.

Supporting the South Region will be team members Lyn Aurelius, Sr. Production Manager, and Ashley Ernst, Manager Administrative Operations. Nathan Pyle is Administrative Assistant to both the South Region and the Nashville Chapter.

Meanwhile, the Nashville Chapter team includes Laura Crawford, Sr. Membership Coordinator; Courtney White, Project Coordinator; Bri Stewart, Chapter Assistant; and Stephen Lavender, Grammy U Representative.

Leadership Music's Virtual Food Drive Begins Today

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LeadershipMusicLogoLeadership Music and Music Row publications are once again partnering in a Virtual Food Drive (VFD) to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
The joint efforts in 2013 resulted in 1,519 pounds of food collected, which translated into 1,266 meals.
This year, organizers have chosen to open the event up to all Leadership Music alums, whether in Nashville or across the country, by creating VFD which begins today, Monday, Nov. 10, and runs through Friday, Nov. 21.
Leadership Music alumni may donate and designate their class year, with accumulated totals per class shown on the donation website. Leadership Music welcomes anyone to participate in this effort and has set up a special category for non-alumni labeled Friends of Leadership Music.
To donate, click here.
For more information, contact Leadership Music at lm@leadershipmusic.org or 615.770.7090.

Eric Church Joins Five Stadium Shows On Kenny Chesney's 'The Big Revival Tour'

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Kenny Chesney


Kenny Chesney’s stadium shows are always full-blown concert experiences, and what better way to up the intensity level of the The Big Revival Tour than to bring on good friend Eric Church? Church will join five stadium shows on Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour in 2015.
“There is something about the way Eric connects with my audience,” says the man whose sold in excess of a million tickets on each of his headlining tours, “that left me feeling like he made the No Shoes Nation Tour something special! He attacks the stage with so much force – and his songs really speak to the people who are fighting the fight to get by – and I love that about what he does onstage.”
The Big Revival Tour dates featuring Church are as follows:
Saturday, May 9 | Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday, May 30 | Pittsburgh at Heinz Field
Saturday, June 13 | Atlanta at The Georgia Dome
Saturday, July 11 | Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field
Saturday, August 22 | Detroit at Ford Field
“Some of the most fun I’ve ever had on tour was last summer with Kenny,” shares Church. “He’s an artist that isn’t afraid to let you come full blast and do what you do. It’s rare you get to tour with someone you respect and you are friends with. I can’t wait to do it again.”

11th Annual 'Ringside: A Fight For Kids' Charity Event Announced

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rumble on the rowThe 11th annual Ringside: A Fight For Kids, an annual black tie gala boxing event that supports The Charley Foundation, will take place Friday, March 13, 2015 at The Factory in Franklin, Tenn. Music industry members will square off for two “Rumble on the Row” bouts that evening.
Nashville music industry attorneys Scott Safford and Rob Femia (VP, Business & Legal at UMG Nashville) will touch gloves in the first “Rumble on the Row” three-round bout of the evening. Radio promotion professionals Stacy Blythe (Southeast Regional, Republic Nashville) and Anna Johnson (West Coast Promotions, MCA) then step into the ring to become the first female “Rumble on the Row” fighters in the event’s history.
The Charley Foundation is a Nashville non-profit organization that provides assistance to multiple charitable agencies throughout middle Tennessee, to assist disabled and underprivileged children.
“All four ‘Rumble’ boxers are committed and fiercely competitive in their jobs and are sure to bring their best on March 13,” said Carolyn Miller, founder and chairman of The Charley Foundation. “And kudos to Stacy and Anna for being the first women to step into the ring for this event to directly help impact the lives of so many local children.”
For tables, standing room only tickets and additional event information, please visit www.charleyfoundation.org. For training updates, visit www.rumbleontherow.com.

T.J. Martell Remembers Walleman For Award

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tjm-logoThe T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer & AIDS research and Global Action Platform announced the Young Investigator Award for Sarcoma Research to be presented at this year’s Global Action Summit to take place in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Music City Center.
The award will be presented to Chunlei Jin from the Department of Pediatrics Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Jin’s focus is on the mechanism of tumor metastasis in osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that claimed the life of Warner Music Nashville’s Lindsay Walleman, who lost her battle with Sarcoma in 2013. The Young Investigator Award for Sarcoma Research was created in her memory.
Walleman was a 28 years old when diagnosed with the aggressive form of cancer. Walleman’s hope was to give others with the disease a chance at living longer. During her battle, the Warner Music team rallied around her creating a promotion called “For the Linds” (FTL), having contributed more than $100,000 for the effort themselves. Len Blavatnik, owner of Warner Music Group and founder of the Blavatnik Family Foundation generously agreed to make a matching $50,000 gift to the Young Investigators Award for Sarcoma Research in memory of Walleman.
In October of this year, The T.J. Martell Foundation also awarded Jian An, Ph.D the foundation’s first annual Research Fellow Award. He is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Urology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Both the Research Fellowship Award and the Young Investigator Award celebrates the scientific research and future of the role of young scientists and medical specialists in finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. Each grant presented to the recipients is based on scientific quality and the establishment of strengthening of research collaboration with T.J. Martell Foundation’s funded institutions, an awarded Post-doctoral Fellow, the actual research and being a foreign national.
“The T.J. Martell Foundation is focused on funding of post-doctoral fellows in cancer and AIDS research who will be the leaders in scientific research of tomorrow.” said Laura Heatherly, CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation. “We are proud to be supporting the younger generation.”
The Global Action Summit takes place Nov. 17-18, 2014, gathering around 500 top senior-level decision makers from the corporate, government, academic, media, investments and NGO communities will attend the invitation-only summit.
“Over the years, the Foundation has funded more than $260 million of truly impactful science,” said Dr. Gregory Curt, Chair of the T.J. Martell Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee. Next year the foundation will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Sam Hunt Announces Headlining Tour

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unnamedPlatinum-selling country newcomer Sam Hunt has announced his headlining tour, the Lipstick Graffiti Tour, launching Jan. 29 at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, Calif. The tour will run through mid-April, making stops across the country from Anaheim, Dallas and Denver to Chicago, Boston, New York and more.
The MCA Nashville artist recently scored his first No. 1 as an artist with his Platinum-selling “Leave the Night On,” the lead single off his debut project, Montevallo.
Support on the Lipstick Graffiti Tour will be Show Dog-Universal Music’s Native Run and Warner Music Nashville’s Michael Ray. Native Run posted a video announcing their opening slot on the tour.
Hunt’s Lipstick Graffiti Tour ticket pre-sale opens this Wednesday, Nov. 12 with public on-sale to follow Friday, Nov. 14. For ticket information, visit www.samhunt.com.
LIPSTICK GRAFFITI TOUR Dates:
Jan. 29 West Hollywood, Calif. Troubadour
Jan. 30 Anaheim, Calif. House of Blues
Feb. 5 Dallas, Texas House of Blues
Feb. 7 Jackson, Miss. Hal & Mal’s
Feb. 11 New York, N.Y. Irving Plaza
Feb. 12 Boston, Mass. Paradise Rock Club
Feb. 13 Burlington, Vt. Higher Ground
Feb. 14 Silver Spring, Md. The Fillmore
Feb. 19 Knoxville, Tenn. Bijou Theatre
Feb. 20 North Myrtle Beach, S.C. House of Blues
Feb. 21 Charleston, S.C. Music Farm
Mar. 12 Columbus, Ohio Newport Music Hall
Mar. 13 Grand Rapids, Mich. The Intersection
Mar. 14 Chicago, Ill. Joe’s Bar
Mar. 20 Lincoln, Neb. Bourbon Theatre
Mar. 21 Denver, Colo. Ogden Theatre
Apr. 2 Fayetteville, Ark. George’s Majestic Lounge
Apr. 3 Columbia, Mo. The Blue Note
Apr. 4 Milwaukee, Wisc. The Rave
*Additional Tour Dates To Be Announced

Heuerman Joins BubbleUp as VP, Marketing

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Scott Heuerman

Scott Heuerman


Music and technology exec Scott Heuerman has joined digital media and marketing agency BubbleUp as VP of Marketing. Heuerman has worked with Warner Bros. Records, Musictoday, Live Nation, and Apple/iTunes. Most recently, Heuerman led online marketing and eCommerce teams for clients including The Doors Estate, Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Kip Moore and Casting Crowns.
“Scott’s relationships and experience make him a perfect fit for BubbleUp as we continue to help artists, labels and management organizations achieve their most critical business needs; growing, engaging and activating their fan bases,” said Chief Marketing Officer Mike Newman.
“They are committed to helping partners succeed and grow their business through the effective use of technology, and they have incredibly talented leadership, account and development teams,” said Heuerman. “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with everyone at BubbleUp.”
Founded in 2004, with offices in Houston, Nashville,  and Hartford, Conn., BubbleUp’s portfolio includes Jimmy Buffett, Luke Bryan, KISS, Zac Brown Band, Landshark Lager, Alan Jackson, the Academy of Country Music, Margaritaville, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Aerosmith, Live From Daryl’s House and many more.
Heuerman is already on the job and can be reached at scott@bubbleup.com. He will be based out of BubbleUp’s Nashville office.